New London Divorce Lawyer

Experienced Divorce Attorney in New London, CT

Divorce forces you to make important decisions about your future, your finances, and, most importantly, your children. How do you know you are making the decisions that are right for you and your loved ones? At Suisman Shapiro Attorneys-At-Law, our New London divorce lawyer provides clients with the experienced legal guidance they need to make informed decisions about their divorce matters.

If you face divorce in Connecticut and are seeking a proven law firm to represent your interests, we are here for you.

Contested vs. Uncontested Divorce in Connecticut

With a divorce rate of 2.6 per 1,000 population in Connecticut, it’s safe to say that not every divorce looks the same. An uncontested divorce means you and your spouse agree on the major issues like property, support, and any parenting arrangements. This allows you to move through the process faster and at lower cost.

A contested divorce means one or more issues are in dispute and may require negotiation, mediation, or litigation to resolve. Most Connecticut divorces fall somewhere in between. Cases can shift from contested to uncontested as agreements come together.

Military Divorces in New London

For military families, divorce can come with a few extra complications. Deployments, military benefits, retirement pay, housing, and parenting schedules can all come into play. Our New London military divorce attorneys look at more than just Connecticut divorce laws when a servicemember is involved because federal protections and military-specific rules can affect this type of divorce case. Some of these protections and rules are detailed below.

The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA), 50 U.S.C. § 3901-4043, protects servicemembers whose military duties make it difficult to participate in court proceedings. In qualifying situations, the court can grant a stay of at least 90 days. This gives a servicemember time to address the legal matter without trying to do so while deployed or otherwise unable to appear.

Military retirement pay can become part of the property division process. Under 10 U.S.C. § 1408, federal law allows certain court orders dividing disposable retired pay, although specific requirements have to be met. Figuring out the marital portion of a military pension isn’t always as simple as dividing an account balance in half. The length of the marriage, dates of military service, and retirement calculations can all matter.

A deployment can make an existing parenting plan difficult to follow. Parents might need to work out temporary arrangements for where the children stay, how the deployed parent communicates with them, who handles transportation, and what happens when the servicemember returns.

Health coverage, survivor benefits, housing, and relocation can also affect negotiations.

A military divorce case involves several layers of law and financial planning. Understanding the applicable divorce laws is important, but so is looking at the federal rules that apply to military families.

High-Net-Worth Divorces

Some couples accumulate substantial wealth. This can be in the form of businesses, investment accounts, rental properties, retirement plans, trusts, and other assets. All types of assets need to be identified and valued. Some common examples of property that is involved in a high-net-worth divorce are listed below:

• Evaluation of a business involves income, debts, ownership interests, goodwill, compensation, and the difference between personal and business expenses.
• Multiple homes, rental properties, commercial buildings, or vacation properties require individual valuations. The way a property is titled can matter, too.
• Sometimes transfers to relatives, unexplained expenses, cryptocurrency, undisclosed accounts, or changes in business ownership need closer examination.
• IRAs, 401(k)s, pensions, and other retirement assets can be substantial. Dividing certain employer-sponsored plans might require a Qualified Domestic Relations Order, commonly called a QDRO.

Depending on the circumstances, accountants, appraisers, business valuation professionals, or other financial professionals could be needed to understand what assets are actually worth. In a high-asset divorce case, both parties need to understand what they own, what they owe, how assets were acquired, and what dividing them could mean financially down the road. That’s where careful planning can make a real difference.

Gray Divorces

Divorce after 50 comes with its own challenges. Retirement accounts, pensions, Social Security, health insurance, and the family home can all become major issues, especially when a couple has spent decades building their finances together.

The decisions made during a divorce case can affect each spouse for years to come. Our New London divorce attorneys can help you understand how Connecticut’s divorce laws apply to retirement assets, future income, and other concerns that come with divorcing later in life.

Collaborative Divorce

Not every couple needs to resolve a divorce through courtroom litigation. If both spouses are willing to communicate openly and negotiate, collaborative divorce can offer another path. Connecticut’s Uniform Collaborative Law Act establishes a framework for qualifying collaborative matters. This framework is detailed below:

• Each spouse needs their own New London divorce attorney. Each attorney provides legal advice while helping their clients negotiate an agreement.
• The process can include neutral financial professionals, divorce coaches, or other professionals who help address financial and family concerns.
• Participants are expected to provide timely and complete information relevant to the matter.
• Spouses work through their disagreements in a private setting.
• Either spouse can generally end the collaborative process. If the process breaks down and litigation becomes necessary, special rules can affect whether the collaborative attorneys can continue representing the parties.

Collaborative divorce isn’t right for everyone. If there’s domestic violence, coercion, dishonesty, or a significant power imbalance, negotiating in this setting might not be appropriate. But when both spouses are willing to work together, it can provide a more cooperative way to address property, finances, and parenting issues without turning every disagreement into a courtroom battle.

Grounds for Divorce in Connecticut

Connecticut is a no-fault divorce state, which means you can end a marriage simply by stating that it has broken down irretrievably without proving wrongdoing. Fault-based grounds (such as adultery, desertion, or intolerable cruelty) still exist and can matter in some cases, but most divorces proceed on no-fault grounds.

Statutory Factors for Alimony

There’s no simple formula that says one spouse automatically receives a certain percentage of the other’s income. Instead, Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46b-82 lays out factors that the courts consider when deciding whether to award alimony and, if so, how much and for how long. Some of the most commonly cited factors regarding alimony in a divorce case are listed below:

• How long the couple was married can affect the court’s evaluation of support.
• Each spouse’s age and physical or mental health can affect both financial needs and the ability of either to work.
• The court looks at current income, earning capacity, education, vocational skills, employability, and other sources of income.
• The employment, lifestyle, and financial circumstances of both spouses can be relevant.
• The court considers what each spouse owns, what each owes, and what each person needs financially.
• Connecticut law allows the court to consider the causes for the dissolution when determining alimony.
• Property distributed as part of the divorce can also factor into the alimony decision.
• When minor children are involved, the court considers whether employment is desirable or feasible for the parent who has custody.

While people often want to know what the standard alimony amount is, there really isn’t one. Every divorce case has its own financial and family circumstances, and those details each uniquely affect the outcome of a spousal support ruling.

Types of Alimony

Depending on the circumstances, alimony can be structured in several ways. Some of the most common types of alimony are explained below:

• Rehabilitative alimony. This is temporary support that’s intended to give one spouse the financial means and time needed so that they can become more financially independent through education or job training.
• Periodic alimony. This type of support is made in the form of payments on a recurring basis according to the terms established by the court.
• Long-term or permanent alimony. This type of alimony has no set timeframe, and the support is paid for an indefinite period of time. The amount of support could change as life circumstances might require modification.

The type and duration of support can have a major impact on both spouses. Before agreeing to an alimony provision, it’s worth looking closely at how the proposed arrangement fits with the rest of the financial settlement and the applicable divorce laws.

Division of Property

When a couple has little or no marital property, no children, and no disagreement on spousal maintenance/alimony, their divorce usually goes very quickly. Most couples, however, have numerous issues to work out during the divorce process.

These issues may involve children or significant marital property: personal property, real estate, a family business, large or concealed debts, trusts, real property in other states, joint and separate accounts, investments, insurance, pensions, and other assets. In any divorce, especially one involving complex property matters, an experienced New London divorce lawyer can offer valuable guidance and advocacy.

Dealing With Divorce

For some, divorce may feel like a liberating new beginning. For most, however, it is not so straightforward. The end of a relationship is just as important as the beginning of a marriage. Both events bring numerous difficult emotions. Indeed, recovering from a divorce is similar to the grieving process one experiences when a loved one dies.

The process typically consists of five stages: shock and denial; anger; ambivalence; depression; and recovery. Not everyone experiences these emotions in the same way or in the same order. You may move in and out of a phase more than once, even experiencing more than one phase at a time. It is a difficult and time-consuming process. Family counselors advise that it may take as long as one or two years to truly recover.

Understanding the process and the feelings you may experience can help you grieve the relationship. It is important to allow yourself the time you need to recover from the traumatic experience of ending a marriage so that you can move on to the next phase of your life. An experienced family law attorney can provide invaluable advice and support throughout the divorce process.

Navigating Divorce in Connecticut

If you are getting divorced in Connecticut, it is important to consult with an attorney who can guide you through all aspects of the divorce process, including issues involving child custody, child support, spousal support, and property division.

Our family law attorneys are prepared to guide you through this complex legal terrain. We can work with you personally to gain an understanding of your situation and craft a legal strategy that is uniquely suited to your needs and goals.

Versatile Divorce Practice

Suisman Shapiro Attorneys-At-Law is equipped to meet the divorce law needs of a diverse range of clients. Whether your divorce is high-conflict or low-conflict, involves children or not, or involves complex or relatively simple property division, our legal team is prepared to provide you with the skilled representation you need.

When divorce disputes arise, our attorneys are prepared to resolve them through negotiation, mediation, or traditional litigation. While we strive to resolve divorce disputes in an amicable manner out of court, we are always prepared to protect our clients’ interests in court.

The Dangers of Do-It-Yourself Divorce

Today, couples have many options for getting divorced, including online, do-it-yourself divorce services. It is important to exercise caution before enlisting the services of any company that promises a quick divorce or cheap divorce services.

Even a relatively simple divorce is a complex legal process with extensive paperwork that must be done right to the letter. A misstep or oversight could derail your divorce and wind up costing you more than it would have had you hired an experienced divorce attorney in New London.

Frequently Asked Questions About Divorce

What Is a Legal Divorce?

A divorce is the dissolution of a marriage. After divorce, both parties are free to remarry. During typical divorce proceedings, the couple’s assets and debts are divided, and the care and custody of any children is determined. Each state has its own distinct divorce laws. Connecticut’s divorce laws are defined under Conn. Gen. Stat. § Chapter 815j Dissolution of Marriage, Legal Separation, and Annulment.

What Are Fault Divorce and No-Fault Divorce?

In the past, divorce generally was only granted on the basis of marital misconduct called “fault.” These were grounds of adultery, mental cruelty, or another wrongful act. There were also defenses to these faults. In these divorces, the spouse at fault often received a smaller portion of the marital settlement. In a no-fault divorce, the parties merely need to state that the marriage is irretrievably broken or that the couple has irreconcilable differences.

What Is a Wife Entitled to in a Divorce In CT?

A wife isn’t automatically entitled to anything in a divorce in CT. Connecticut courts consider the circumstances of both spouses when dividing property and deciding financial orders. Factors can include the length of the marriage, each spouse’s income and earning capacity, assets, liabilities, health, needs, and contributions to the marriage and acquisition of property. The same divorce laws apply regardless of which spouse files for divorce.

Before hiring a New London divorce attorney, ask about the firm’s billing structure, retainer requirements, court costs, and other expenses that could be charged separately.

For guidance on related family matters, our New London family law attorneys can help you understand your options.

Hire a Divorce Lawyer With Experience in New London

If you need to hire a divorce lawyer in Connecticut, Suisman Shapiro Attorneys-At-Law is here for you. Contact us online or by telephone to arrange an initial consultation with an experienced Eastern Connecticut divorce lawyer. For your convenience, we accept all major credit cards.

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